# US 12,009,198 B1 · Ultraviolet ray generation device

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- Number: US 12,009,198 B1
- Document ID: US12009198B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 18/555,367
- Filed: 2022-04-15
- Published: 2024-06-20
- Granted: 2024-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2021-04-16
- Assignees: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Applicants: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
- Inventors: Akihiro Kuno; Hideaki Yagyu; Shigeki Fujisawa
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12009198B1

## CPC

- H01J 61/54: Igniting arrangements, e.g. promoting ionisation for starting
- H01J 61/16: having helium, argon, neon, krypton, or xenon as the principle constituent
- H01J 65/00: Lamps without any electrode inside the vessel; Lamps with at least one main electrode outside the vessel
- H01J 65/046: {the field being produced by using capacitive means around the vessel}
- H01J: ELECTRIC DISCHARGE TUBES OR DISCHARGE LAMPS (spark-gaps H01T; electric arc lamps H05B31/00; particle accelerators H05H)

## Abstract

The startability of an ultraviolet ray generation device including an excimer lamp as an ultraviolet light source is to be improved. An ultraviolet ray generation device includes: an excimer lamp having a discharge container in which a discharge gas is sealed; a first electrode body and a second electrode body that are disposed so as not to be exposed to the discharge gas; and a first conductor electrically connected to one of the first electrode body and the second electrode body. The first conductor faces the other electrode body or a second conductor electrically connected to the other electrode body, through a dielectric member. The first conductor causes an atmospheric discharge around the first conductor.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An ultraviolet ray generation device comprising:
an excimer lamp having a discharge container in which a discharge gas is sealed;
a first electrode body and a second electrode body that are disposed so as not to be exposed to the discharge gas; and
a first conductor electrically connected to one of the first electrode body and the second electrode body,
wherein
the first conductor has a portion facing an other electrode body or a second conductor electrically connected to the other electrode body, through a dielectric member, and
the first conductor causes an atmospheric discharge around the first conductor.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The ultraviolet ray generation device according to claim 1, wherein the dielectric member is a member distinct from the discharge container.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The ultraviolet ray generation device according to claim 1, wherein a thickness of the dielectric member interposed between the first conductor and either the other electrode body or the second conductor is smaller than a sum of a thickness of the discharge container interposed between the first electrode body and the discharge gas and a thickness of the discharge container interposed between the second electrode body and the discharge gas.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The ultraviolet ray generation device according to claim 1, wherein the first conductor is made of at least one conductive material selected from aurum, platinum, tungsten, titanium, aluminum, and stainless steel or an alloy of the conductive material.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The ultraviolet ray generation device according to claim 4, wherein the first conductor is made of at least one conductive material selected from aurum, platinum, and tungsten or an alloy of the conductive material.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The ultraviolet ray generation device according to claim 1, wherein
the first conductor extends in a rod shape toward the other electrode body or the second conductor, and
the first conductor causes an atmospheric discharge at a distal end of the first conductor as a starting point.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The ultraviolet ray generation device according to claim 6, wherein the second conductor comprises a planar portion facing the distal end of the first conductor.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The ultraviolet ray generation device according to claim 1, wherein
the first conductor extends so as to be planar and face the other electrode body or the second conductor, and
the first conductor causes a creeping discharge along a surface of the dielectric member with a distal end of the first conductor as a starting point.